Crate for shipping glass and like frangible materials



E. P. BUCKO Oct. 1, 1968 CRATE FOR SHIPPING GLASS AND LIKE FRANGIBLEMATERIALS ZlSheet-Sheet l Filed Feb. 9, 1967 m62 /w ov@ Edward l? Buc/ro INVENTOR.

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E. P. BucKo 3,403,777

CRATE FOR SHIPPING GLASS AND LIKE FRANGIBLE MATERIALS Oct. l, 1968 I B AWM, WM fw (l o 2 k m, m 0 @wh m ,n M m m f,// r1. n wh@ X \\\\\\\\\\\\\K @wo/wu n w/ n M/ fw w m5 A l United States Patent O 3,403,777 CRATE FOR SHIPPING GLASS AND LIKE FRANGIBLE MATERIALS Edward P. Bucko, P.0. Box 5, Great Falls, Mont. 59401 Filed Feb. 9, 1967, Ser. No. 614,963 8 Claims. (Cl. 20G-62) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A crate for glass panels or the like including a plurality of removably mounted vertical panel stabilizing rods engaged between upper and lower members. The rods are selectively orientated so as to, through resilient sleeves mounted thereon, engage the opposite faces of a glass panel as well as one or both edges thereof as might be required so as to effect a stabilization of the glass panel. The upper and lower members include holes which receive the ends of the rods, one end of each rod being telescopic for facilitating the mounting thereof in the corresponding holes. Side walls are also provided on the crate for enclosing the stabilized glass panels with the side walls also acting, in conjunction with an adjacent row of rods, to stabilize a sheet or panel of glass or the like.

This invention generally appertains to improvements in crates for the storing, shipping and the like handling of a sheet, panel and/ or the like formed of glass, plastic and similar frangible materials and more particularly relates to a novel returnable shipping crate for safely shipping and transporting sheets or panels, formed from glass, plastic or like frangible materials, and constitutes novel improvements over my prior Patent No. 2,950,001, issued Aug. 23, 1960.

In my prior patent, a returnable glass shipping crate is disclosed wherein the crate is constructed so as to be packed and shipped to a destination at which it is unpacked. The crate essentially comprises a container having side walls and two opposing end walls, each of the latter being construced of a plurality of transverse slots and a plurality of longitudinal slots which intersect the transverse slots with rails being secured on the edges of a glass panel and slidable in the slots for positioning the panel within the container. Anchoring means or keepers are provided for locating the rails in position in the slots so that the rails, which encompass the edges of a glass panel, are securely locked or clamped within the slots and prevented from movement therein. The side and end walls, which form the container, are adapted to receive front and back imperforate panels.

While such shipping crate has been satisfactory in use, it has been found that the same is unduly structurally complicated and requires the expenditure of time in the placement of the glass panels in the crate, that the crate is not readily adaptable for use in shipping a plurality of panels of varying and diifering sizes and shapes and that, without the rigid front and back panels, the secured glass panels are .not protected and yet, with such front and back panels it is impossible for the contents of the crate to be inspected d-uring shipment and upon delivery of the crate without removal thereof.

Accordingly, an important object of the present invention is to provide an improved crate construction, which does not have any of the drawbacks attendant with my prior patented crate construction and which can be used to protectively ship any number of various dimensioned glass panels or the like, with the panels being securely and positively held between opposing wall frame members of the container by simple clamping means that can be installed without the use of any fasteners and without any carpenter materials, or the use of any skilled ice labor and whereby the contents of the container will be exposed, the container being provided with reticulated front and back walls, so that the glass panels or the like packed in the container can be inspected prior to shipment and inspected by the consumer, upon delivery, without -disturbing any of the panels or unpacking the container or crate.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide an extremely simple, sturdy, efficient and effective shipping and storing crate for panels, sheets and the like, which are formed from fraingible materials, with easily insertable and releasable cooperative clamping means being provided for clamping the panels in position within the crate and between opposing walls or frame members thereof.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide, in a shipping crate which has opposing spaced apart, parallel rigid frame members, a novel means for securing a glass or other type material sheet or panel in position between the members, such means including the provisio-n of aligned sockets on the inner confronting faces of the members and rigid rod members having axially aligned opposing end portions, one of the end portions of the rod members being movable axially and being spring urged outwardly so as to clamp the rod members with their end portions seated in the sockets in the opposing faces of the opposing members and the rod members being provided with resilient sleeve elements circumposed thereon intermediate the end portions and adapted to clampingly bear against the opposing sides or faces of a glass panel.

Another important object of the present invention is .to provide, in structural association with such rod members, front and rear reticulated panels, which cooperate with the resilient sleeve elements on the rod members by virtue of the provision of resilient pads or the like on the inner surfaces of the front and rear panels or walls for clampingly supporting a glass panel or the like.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE l is a view in perspective of a shipping crate for glass panels or the like, the crate being constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical, cross-sectional view, taken substantially on line Z-Z of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal, horizontal sectional view, taken substantially on line 3-3 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 4 is a detailed, longitudinal vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale taken substantially on line 4 4 of FIGURE 3 and illustrating in detail one of the rod members, and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view, similar to FIGURE 3, and illustrating the utilization of the front and rear reticulated panels for supporting frangible sheets or panels.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, and initially to FIGURES 1 4 the shipping crate 10 is in the form of a container which has opposing top and bottom walls or frame members 14 and 16 that are made from rigid sturdy material, such as wood, such latter material being chosen from an economical and utilitarian standpoint. The frame members 14 and 16, which constitute top and bottom walls, are substantially coextensive in length and are held in fixed spaced and parallel relationship by end `walls 18 and 20. The end walls 18 and 20 have their opposing ends in facial engagement or relation with the outer flat ends of the top and bottom walls. Right angular corner plates 22 are provided to fasten the top, bottom and end walls or frame members together so as to form the rectangular framework which makes up the container 12.

The corner plates 22 are preferably formed from sheet metal or the like thin but sturdy material and have angular flat sections 24 and 26, with the section 24 having laterally inturned side flanges 28 and the section 26 having laterally inturned flanges 30. The flanges 28 and 30 are fastened Yto the respective walls or frame members by fasteners, such as the screws 32.

The crate is composed of front and back reticulated walls 34 and 36. Each of the reticulated walls is formed of a rectangular open frame or framework 38, including top and bottom bars 4t) and 42 interconnected and rigidified by vertical end bars 44 and 46. Each frame is fixed in an inset 48 formed in the opposing faces or sides of the frame members of the container, as shown in FIGURE 2, with the bars set in the inset 48 and bearing against the inner shoulders 50 and having their upper edges resting on the angular, lateral shoulders 52. The bars are held in place by fasteners, such as the screws 54, and the outer faces of the bars are disposed substantially coplanar with the outer faces or sides of the frame mem- -bers 14, 16, 18 and 20 of the container 12. The flanges 2S and 30 of the reinforcing angular corner plates terminate at the insets 48 so that the angular corner plates do not have to be removed to place in position and remove the front and back walls 34 and 36.

The front and back walls 34 and 36 are formed of the rectangular open framework 38, with vertical reinforcing bars 56 being provided between the longitudinal top and bottom bars 40 and y42 and being disposed in spaced parallel relation with the end bars 44 and 46. Reticulated panel sections 58 are provided and are suitably attached to the inner faces of the bars which comprise the framework, the panels 58 being formed of open mesh sturdy wire which is in sheet form and extends entirely throughout the open framework so as to close olf the framework and define therewith the front and back walls 34 and 36, which are transparent by virtue of the screens or reticulated panels 58.

The bottom frame member 16 is provided at its opposing ends with base blocks 60, which support the bottom frame member 16 in a position raised above the ground surface, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 4, and the lower corner brackets or reinforcing corner plates enclose the edges of the blocks.

Means are provided for supporting a glass sheet or panel, such as the panel 62 in a secure position parallel with and between the front and back reinforced and reticulated walls or panels 34 and 36 and perpendicular to the top and bottom frame members or walls 14 and 16 of the container of the crate 12. Such means includes the provision of sockets 64 formed in the inner face of the lower or base member or wall 16 and aligned sockets 66 formed vertically in the inner face or surface of the top wall or upper frame member 14. The sockets 64 and 66 are disposed in vertical alignment and the sockets are disposed in spaced apart relationship along the length of the frame members 14 and 16. Thus, the sockets 64 are formed in one row and the sockets 66 are formed in an aligned row in the upper member 14, so that the sockets 64 in the one row in the bottom member 16 are in alignment, vertically or axially speaking, with the sockets 66 in the row formation of the upper member 14. Sockets 68 are formed in a row in the lower member 16 and a complemental row of sockets 70 is formed in the upper member 14, the sockets 68 and 70 being in vertical alignment and the sockets being spaced apart lengthwise of the frame members, as shown in FIGURE 3. It is preferred, though not necessary, that the sockets 64 and 68 be in staggered relationship, while the sockets 66 and '70 are in the same staggered relationship.

In such a crate construction, a clamping means 72 is provided for clamping the glass panel 62 and holding it in position. In this respect, as shown more specifically in FIGURE 4, such means includes a rod member 74, which is preferably tubular and has opposing end portions 76 and 78, which are coaxially reduced. The end portion 76 terminates in a free extremity 7 6a and the end portion 78 terminates in a free extremity 78a, such extremities being adapted to be inserted in the sockets `64 and 66 and 68 and 7 tl, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 4.

Each of the rod members 74 is formed, therefor, with opposing end portions 78 and 76, which are in axial alignment and constitute axial prolongations of the rod members. The end portion 76 is axially movable relative to the major body portion of the rod members 74, as shown in FIGURE 4. The end portion 76 is slidably disposed within the'tubular rod member and is pro-vided with an inner plunger-like end portion 80, which is structurally associated with an expansion spring 82 anchored on a transversely disposed pin 84 within the rod member to which the upper end of the spring is attached or the spring may merely abut or bear against the pin. The spring-urged retractable end portions 76 are provided so that the rod members can be inserted into and positioned between the frame members 14 and 16 and locked in place 'by having their opposing end portions locked in the aligned sockets, as shown in FIGURE 4, whereby the rod members are securely anchored between the frame members 14 and 16.

The rod members are provided with resilient sleeves 86 which are circumposed thereon and which are held in vfrictional placement at selected and adjusted positions along the length of the rod members. The dimensions of the resilient sleeves may vary but, as shown in FIGURE 2, the sleeves are so formed and so disposed on the cooperating rod members, which clampingly engage the panels 62, that the sleeves clampingly engage the opposing faces of the panel 62 and securely hold it between the frame members. It is not necessary that the panel be of a dimension to extend between the opposing frame members, since the resilient gripping action of the sleeves on the cooperating rod members will hold any size panels.

The rods are shown as hollow and tubular but may be solid and of any desired cross-sectional shape and the sleeves will have an axial bore complemental to the exterior shape of the rods and can be lof any size or shape, from a widthwise and lengthwise standpoint.

In the instant, as for example the panel 62, shown in FIGURE 3, where the panel does not extend the full length of the container, a rod member 74a is provided and is fitted, at its opposing ends in the row of sockets 88 formed in the inner faces of the frame members 14 and 16, the rows 88 being interposed between the rows 64 and 68 in the member 16 and the cooperating rows of sockets 66 an-d 70 formed in the frame member 14. The sleeves 86 on the rod members 74a are adapted to engage the free end 62a of the panel 62, which end may, as in the instance of the panel 62 shown in FIGURE 3, have a channel frame on it, though such is merely attendant with the formation of the panel 62 and is not necessary for the anchoring of a glass panel in position.

The inner faces or surfaces of the frame members 14 and 16 are provided with metal liners or plates 90 and 92, which have apertures aligned with the sockets, the purpose of the liners being to prevent wear on the inner faces of the frame members 14 and 16.

In the instance of FIGURE 5, additional panels 94 and 96 may be secured between the rod members in the sockets 64, 66 and 68, 70, with the panels being clamped between the sleeves on such rod members and resilient ribs or resilient pads 98 which are formed on the inner faces of the bars 56 and suitably fixed thereto and extend substantially the full axial extent or height thereof, as shown in FIGURE 5.

It can be appreciated that many variations may be created and that a plurality of panels or plates, which are formed of glass, plastic or any other type `of frangible material, may be securely anchored within the crate by virtue of the placement of the rod members 74 in accordance with the dimensions, shapes and numbers of the panels.

The important factors are the provision of the sockets in the confronting faces of the cooperating and opposing frame members and the rod members 74 which have at least one axially movable end portion which is spring urged outwardly, either from an inside socketed relation or an exterior sleeve relation, so that the rod members are locked within the sockets in the desired relationship whereby the resilient sleeves 86, which are circumposed on the rod members, cooperate to clampingly engage the opposing sides and, if necessary, ends of a panel or plate, as exemplarily shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. Furthermore, the front and rear walls 34 and 36 can be utilized, by virtue of the resilient pads 98 to support panels, such as panels 94 and 96, in cooperation with the sleeves on the outermost side rod members 74.

The front and rear walls of the container 12 are open or transparent, by virtue of the reticulated panel constructions 58, so that the interior contents of the crate can be examined during transportation and can be inspected by the recipient or purchaser at the destination point without removing the front and rear walls to determine if any of the panels have become cracked or broken.

The upper corner plates, as shown in FIGURE 1, are provided with U-shaped metallic hooks or straps 100 so that hoisting lines may be attached thereto to raise and lower the crate and the end frame members 18 and 20 may be provided with rope handles 102, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 4, whereby the crate may be slid on the base blocks 60 along a supporting surface.

It can be appreciated that it is a simple matter to position glass or other frangible material, panels, plates or the like with or without edge frame constructionsor just plain sheets of glass, within the crate by disposing the same vertically between the top and bottom frame members or walls 14 and 16 and then anchoring them in position by a judicious placement of the anchoring or clamping rigid rod members 74 so that the resilient sleeves 86 thereon engage the opposing faces of the panels and hold the panels in secured vertical positions, with the ends of the panels being held by the end walls and a rod or by a pair of rods, depending upon the length of the panels. Any possible arrangement can be realized depending upon the dimensions of the panels or sheets. This can be appreciated, in one exemplary instance, from a consideration of FIGURE 5.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A storing and shipping crate for flat panels comprising upper and lower generally horizontally orientated members vertically spaced from each other for the accommodation of one or more vertically orientated panels therebetween positioned on and supported by the lower member, vertical support wall means extending between and engaged with the upper and lower members, a plurality of vertically elongated rods retained in openings on the inner opposed surfaces of said members, and means releasably securing said rods vertically between the upper and lower members in both longitudinal and lateral spaced relation to each other within the lateral contines of said upper and lower members, said rods defining at least two rows for engagement with the opposed faces and the stabilizing accommodation of a vertically orientated panel located laterally therebetween.

2. The crate of claim 1 including means for releasably securing at least one of said rods vertically between the upper and lower members and laterally between the two rows of rods for stabilizing engagement with at least one vertical edge of a received panel.

3. The crate of claim 2 including resiliently compressible sleeves on said rods for compressive engagement against a received panel, and through the resilient nature of the sleeves, the accommodation of panels of varying thicknesses.

4. The crate of claim 3 including side walls between said upper and lower horizontally orientated members and in engagement with the lateral edges of said members, said side walls including inwardly directed resiliently rcompressible pads for cooperation with adjacently located rods in the compressive retention of panels of varying thicknesses therebetween.

5. The crate of claim 4 wherein said walls are reticulated to expose internally mounted panels, said walls including vertical reinforcing bars upon which said resilient pads are mounted.

6. The crate of claim 1 including side walls between said upper and lower horizontally orientated members and in engagement with the lateral edges of said members, said side walls including inwardly directed resiliently compressible pads for cooperation with adjacently located rods in the compressive retention of panels of varying thicknesses therebetween.

7. The crate of claim 6 including means for releasably securing at least one of said rods vertically between the upper and lower members and laterally between the two rows of rods for stabilizing engagement with at least one vertical edge of a received panel.

8. The crate of claim 6 including resiliently compressible sleeves on said rods for compressive engagement against a received panel, and through the resilient nature of the sleeves, the accommodation of panels of varying thicknesses.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,746,470 2/ 1930 Hennessey 206-60 2,034,205 3/ 1936 Quirk et al 217--20 2,087,044 7/ 1937 Reiners 2l7-64 2,221,283 11/ 1940 Derman 217-70 2,608,420 8/1952 Eck c 248-356 2,792,252 5/ 1957 Ernest 206-60 2,950,001 8/ 1960 Bucko 206-1 3,233,753 2/1966 Rich 214-105 WILLIAM T. DIXSON, IR., Primary Examiner. 

